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Tag: Hardik Pandya

  • IPL 2021: Hardik shows some form as Mumbai beat Punjab Kings by six wickets

    By PTI

    ABU DHABI: Hardik Pandya finally showed glimpses of his destructive self as he brought Mumbai Indians back in play-off contention with the defending champions beat Punjab Kings by six wickets in an IPL encounter on Tuesday.

    Hardik smashed two fours and a six in the penultimate over bowled by Mohammed Shami as his 40 not out off 30 balls saw MI snap a three-match losing streak successfully chasing down a target of 136 in 19 overs.

    Saurabh Tiwary (45 off 37) and Kieron Pollard (15 not out) also played their part as M survived some anxious moments before ending on winning note.

    Pollard who took two wickets in Punjab innings hit a six and four off young left-armer Arshdeep Singh taking 13 off the 18th over which helped Hardik go for the jugular against Shami.

    It only helped that his final shot which ended as a maximum was a regulation catch which Deepak Hooda dropped at the fence.

    After this victory, MI reached the fifth spot with 10 points from 11 matches, while Punjab slipped to sixth spot.

    Defending the total, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi got rid of Rohit Sharma (8) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in successive deliveries to leave MI toterring at 16 for two.

    Tiwary and Quinton de Kock (27) took the team to 30 for 2 in the powerplay.

    Tiwary eased the pressure with a boundary at the cover-point area, before picking up another four off Nathan Ellis.

    Dropped by Aiden Markram at the boundary line in 8th over, Tiwary danced down the wicket and deposited Harpreet over mid-wicket for a maximum to bring up the 50.

    De Kock, who was looking good, lost his bearing in the 10th over as he dragged one on to his stumps, immediately after pulling Mohammed Shami for a four as MI slumped to 62 for 3.

    Tiwary and Hardik Pandya kept MI in hunt but runs dried up with Arshdeep Singh taking the pace off but Harpreet dropped the India allrounder to add to his frustration.

    Needing 52 off 36, Tiwary clobbered Bishnoi over mid-wicket but he was soon removed by Nathan Ellis.

    Hardik then unleashed a four and six in two balls off Shami to keep MI in the hunt.

    Needing 29 in the last three overs, Pollard blasted one across the at extra cover and then deposited the next one over long-off.

    Hardik then exploded in the 19th over bowled by Shami as he sent a wide delivery across the boundary and then pulled one across the midwicket before heaving one over long-on to end the contest.

    Earlier, Markram shared a 61-run partnership with Deepak Hooda (28) to lift their score after they were reduced to 48 for 4 in 7.3 overs.

    However, once the South African was back in the hut in the 16th over, Punjab couldn’t score a single boundary, managing a meagre 23 runs in the last four overs.

    Pollard (2/8) and Bumrah (2/24) were the pick of the bowlers but they were supported well by Krunal Pandya (1/24), Rahul Chahar (1/27) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (0/19).

    earlier, Mandeep Singh (15) was the first to go as Krunal Pandya dealt the first blow.

    Pollard then removed Chris Gayle.

    Two balls later, Pollard picked up Rahul for his 300th wicket in T20s after the batsman pulled a short of length delivery straight to Bumrah at short fine leg.

    Bumrah then produced his famous dipping yorker to trap Nicholas Pooran in front of wicket as Punjab slipped to 48 for four in 8th over.

    Markram and Hooda then kept the scoreboard ticking, picking up singles of Chahar and occassional boundaries to take Punjab to 90 for 4 in 14 overs.

    Punjab never got the momentum going as new man Harpreet Brar struggled to negotiate the variations of Bumrah and Coulter-Nile in the death overs.

    Hooda, in desperation, then sent one up in the air only to be caught by Pollard as PBKS ended with a below-par score.

  • Maxwell produces ‘Big Show’, Harshal takes hattrick as RCB crush Mumbai by 54 runs

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Glenn Maxwell justified his million dollar contract with an all-round performance before Harshal Patel took a hat-trick to ensure a thumping 54-run victory for Royal Challengers Bangalore over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday.

    Maxwell (56 off 37 balls and 2/23) produced one of his better efforts in the IPL while Harshal (4/17 in 3.1 overs), the current Purple Cap holder removed Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Rahul Chahar off successive deliveries to defend a target of 165 without breaking much sweat.

    MI were all-out for 111 in 18.1 overs, losing 10 wickets for 54 runs after being 57 for no loss at one stage.

    Skipper Virat Kohli won the ‘Battle of Bosses’ against his national team deputy Rohit Sharma as RCB with 12 points are back in the play-off contention while MI with three successive defeats are now in a real spot of bother at seventh spot in eight-team table.

    Kohli would also happy with his second half-century and the form of his premier spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (3/11 in 4 overs).

    Rohit teed off with three boundaries in a single over from Kyle Jamieson.

    MI looked in complete control during the Powerplay as Quinton de Kock also got a few boundaries.

    However it was Chahal, who removed de Kock and then Ishan Kishan’s full-blooded shot was just about parried away by Rohit, who was hit on the left wrist trying to avoid a body blow.

    That must have affected his concentration as he tried to hit a second six off Maxwell having hit one in the earlier over but this time was pouched by Devdutt Padikkal at the long-on boundary much to the delight of rival skipper Kohli.

    Ishan Kishan (9 off 12 balls), who has barely managed 100 runs in nine IPL matches this season, would increase the worry of national selectors as he played an irresponsible hoick against the turn off Chahal and Krunal Pandya (5) then trying to break the logjam was bowled by Maxwell.

    However, what disappointed the MI skipper most was how Surykumar Yadav (8) chased a wide yorker from Mohammed Siraj to give simple catch to short third man as MI slumped to 97 for 5 with recovery looking implausible.

    Then Harshal got his hattrick to finish off the proceedings in style.

    Earlier, Maxwell finally came good with an attacking 56 after skipper Kohli’s second consecutive half-century, taking Royal Challengers Bangalore to a par-score of 165/6.

    Kohli, who completed 10,000 runs in T20 cricket, scored 51 off 42 balls with three fours and three sixes but it was Maxwell who justified his expensive price tag with a 37-ball blitzkrieg before Jasprit Bumrah brought MI back in the game.

    Maxwell’s innings had six fours and three sixes as he showed true destructive potential with switch hits, lap shots and flicks during the final overs when he launched into MI pacers Adam Milne (1/48 in 4 overs) and Bumrah (3/26 in 4 overs) with utter disdain.

    Such was the ferocity of Maxwell’s hits that even the normally calm MI skipper Rohit looked helpless before Bumrah removed both Maxwell and AB de villiers (11) off successive deliveries which at least helped them save 20 to 25 runs in the final two overs.

    The normally dependable Devdutt Padikkal (0) had an off-day as Bumrah bowled a beauty which pitched on length and moved away taking the outside edge into Quinton de Kock’s gloves.

    Kohli found a confident partner in Bharat (32 off 24 balls) as they quickly added 68 runs for the second wicket.

    Bharath for good measure swept Rahul Chahar against the turn for two sixes while Kohli also imperiously pulled Bumrah for a six over deep mid-wicket.

    However, Bharat couldn’t convert his start as Chahar bowled one straight and full and the batter didn’t get the required elevation being holed at long-off boundary.

    Once Bharat was out and Maxwell came in, RCB despite some great shots couldn’t force the pace as Kohli and Maxwell added 50 runs in seven overs.

  • Mumbai hopeful of Hardik’s return against RCB on Sunday, says Zaheer

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Mumbai Indians Director of Cricket Operations, Zaheer Khan on Saturday exuded confidence that star all-rounder Hardik Pandya would be fit to play in their next game against Royal Challengers Bangalore after missing the title holder’s first two games in the second leg of the ongoing Indian Premier League.

    MI did not have the best of starts in the second phase of the tournament, losing their first two games against Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.

    But Zaheer is optimistic about Hardik’s return in the playing eleven in their next game on Sunday.

    “Well, we have a practice session today lined up, so after we finish the press conference we are going to go there and will take an informed call on that. He (Hardik) has started practicing, that’s what I can share with you guys right now. So, we are hopeful that he (Hardik) will be fit and available. That’s what we are hoping,” the former India pacer said at the pre-match conference.

    MI head coach Mahela Jayawardane had said that the Baroda all-rounder missed the game against CSK due a little niggle.

    He also the missed the next game against KKR.

    According to Zaheer, every team has become smart in their preparations and the five-time champions MI very well know how to perform under pressure.

    “As you know, IPL is a very highly competitive tournament, so teams are always trying to have a one up on each other and they are getting smart in their preparation and these days every team is analysing every other team. So we have to stay on the top.”

    “The focus has always been on us, this team has been so successful because we have been focusing on our processes, our strengths and our players who are taking the field. And these are the players who have got us the championship, so we have that kind of approach and we have had quite a lot of good conversations around those things,” he said.

    “When it comes to the back-end of the tournament, the pressure is (high), this team certainly knows how to perform under pressure,” added Zaheer.

    MI middle-order has misfired in the first two games since the IPL’s resumption.

    “When you look at the scorecard, you will say ya (laughs), there is a concern.”

    But Zaheer stressed that it was just a matter of time.

    “But I don’t see it (the middle-order form) as a concern. It is just about finding that rhythm. You have seen in this format and this tournament particularly that once you get on a roll, you can win a couple of games together,” he said.

    “This team has been so successful because of certain processes in terms of form, it is always just one innings away, be it a batter or a bowler and for you to win games of cricket, everything has to come together,” he explained.

    Zaheer said they got good starts in the last two games but weren’t able to finish off things.

    “So far, we have been getting good starts, we have been having those platforms, (we are) not being able to close in those situations, so the focus will be on that going forward. It is just about everything coming together and we just need that one game and that one game I am certain has to be the next game,” he said.

    “Because we are getting in that business end of the tournament where every game is going to matter and every game is going to bring in more pressure. When we have such a successful background to look at and such experienced players to fall back on, we are looking forward to the challenge and we are looking forward to the opportunity we have right now, going forward to make history.”

    “It is just a matter of time before we turn things around,” Zaheer signed off.

  • With T20 WC in mind, Mumbai Indians not going to rush Hardik Pandya

    By PTI

    ABU DHABI: Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is “close to playing” but Mumbai Indians won’t rush him back as the franchise is also keeping in mind the needs of the Indian team while managing his workload, MI bowling coach Shane Bond said.

    Pandya, who has hardly bowled ever since returning to action after a back surgery last year, missed his second successive IPL game in the UAE leg but Bond asserted that the Baroda player was training well and hopefully will make a mark in the business end of the tournament.

    “Look, Hardik is training well, like Rohit. He is getting closer to playing. We are obviously balancing the needs of our team with the needs of Team India as well,” Bond said at the post-match press conference when asked about Hardik’s status.

    Mumbai Indians suffered a seven-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday in their IPL game.

    It was after their 20-run loss to Chennai Super Kings in the first game after resumption.

    “The one thing that this franchise does very well is look after its players with an eye on not only to try and win this competition but also on the T20 World Cup that’s following on,” said the former New Zealand speedster.

    “We are hopeful that Hardik will be back for the next match. As I said, he has trained today and trained pretty well by all counts.”

    Mumbai head coach Mahela Jayawardene had earlier said that Hardik was kept out of the IPL game against Chennai Super Kings as a precautionary measure as he had a little niggle.

    Bond backed the team management’s decision to not play Hardik in the first two matches.

    “We are obviously desperate to put him back out on the field. But like anything you have to balance everything up, you have to also consider what the player wants,” he said.

    “There’s also no point rushing him back to get injured to miss the rest of the tournament when we may have a chance to win it.

    “I think we are doing the right thing and hopeful (that) we will get him back shortly and he’ll have an impact on the back-end of the tournament and get us into the playoffs and hopefully win the tournament from there.” On Thursday, Mumbai Indians were restricted to sub-par 155 and Bond said that the defending champions were well short of the score.

  • Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya are recovering very well: Trent Boult

    By PTI

    ABU DHABI: Mumbai Indians pacer Trent Boult is not sure if skipper Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Hardik Pandya would feature in their next IPL game on Thursday but said both of them are recovering well.

    West Indies’ Kieron Pollard had led the side against Chennai Super Kings in the absence of Rohit, who has a dodgy knee while Pandya also missed the game due to a niggle.

    “They are both recovering very well. In terms of their selection for the next game, I’m not too sure what’s going on there. But day by day, they are improving,” Boult said during a virtual press conference on the eve of their game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

    “They are obviously two vital players in the XI for Mumbai. And we’re desperate to get them back. So, fingers crossed that they’ll be pretty good to go over the next couple of games,” added the New Zealand pacer.

    Boult said Rohit was “sorely missed” in the game against CSK but defended the team management’s decision to rest the star opener.

    “He is right up there in terms of experience and runs achieved in this format. So, it was a big hole but it was a good decision to make sure he is 100 per cent with the amount of cricket coming up. If he comes to the eleven, it will be brilliant, but we want to make sure he is 100 percent fit,” said Boult.

    The defending champions have a better record against KKR in the cash-rich league but Boult believes that history does not matter in this format.

    “It is more about starting afresh, every game is such a big game, every match is important now. History is history, it is nice to have previous results against them, but they are a quality side and we would not take them lightly,” said the left-arm pacer.

    Boult, 32, also felt that competing in the IPL was good preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the UAE and Oman in October-November.

    “You could probably not have any better build-up to the tournament like the T20 World Cup. The focus is on what’s on for the next couple of weeks, but in terms of preparation, it is very good. Conditions can change quite quickly but having to deal with the heat and humidity is a big challenge at this stage. It is going to be interesting to see how conditions move over the course of the next few weeks,” Boult signed off.

  • Hardik missed out due to niggle, says Mumbai Indians head coach Jayawardene

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Star allrounder Hardik Pandya was kept out of the IPL game against Chennai Super Kings as a precautionary measure as he had a little niggle, said Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene.

    “Hardik was training, had a little niggle, so again precaution, we thought, lets just give him extra days to see how things are, but nothing serious,” the former Sri Lankan skipper said during a virtual press conference.

    MI skipper Rohit Sharma had also opted out of the match and Jayawardene said he should be available for the next match.

    “Rohit was batting and doing his running as well, but after coming back from the UK, we felt that, he probably needed an extra few days, so should be fine to play the next game,” he said.

    Mumbai didn’t have a good start to the resumption of the IPL as they lost the opening match by 20 runs and Jayawardene lamented that none of his batters took the responsibility to bat through the innings.

    Ruturaj Gaikwad hit an unbeaten 88 while Dwayne Bravo, batting at number eight, smashed 23 off just 8 balls as CSK made 156 for six after opting to bat first.

    The total proved to be more than enough as CSK restricted MI to 136 for 8.

    “We probably gave couple of soft dismissals.

    It just needed someone to take a bit more responsibility and bat through the innings, which we did not do and that was a difference with Ruturaj (Gaikwad) doing that for CSK,” Jayawardene said.

    “So, even though they (CSK) lost wickets, there was a set batsman, who went till the end. So, I think we’re disappointed, the way we handled the situation, the game awareness and the approach.”

    Chasing 156, MI slipped to 37 for three in the sixth over, before further slumping to 58 for four in the 10th over. Saurabh Tiwary (50 not out) was the top-scorer for MI but he didn’t get enough support.

    “Probably needed a bit more application of taking that responsibility and giving yourself a bit of time because we felt that the second half of each innings was much easier to bat,” Jayawardene said.

    “So, I put it down to game awareness and taking that kind of onuses, but not too concerned, because the guys (have) been hitting the ball pretty well, it is just the application out there in the middle, that is something we need to work on.”

    Mumbai did well in the Delhi-leg of the cash-rich tournament when the IPL was called off earlier this year due to outbreak of COVID-19 cases.

    Jayawardene admitted it is hard to create that kind of momentum again.

    “Yeah, I mean, not in our control. Obviously, we played a couple of very good games in Delhi but unfortunately the tournament had to stop and everyone went away, was playing a lot of different cricket in different parts of the world and then coming back together again and trying to create that kind of momentum is going to be harder.

    “We knew we need to be sharper, especially against the experienced Chennai team. But I think we probably competed that first 10 overs and probably another five overs in between in a 40-over game. So, I think when you’re playing an opposition like Chennai, if you’re not in the competition for that many overs, it’s always going to be tough,” he said.

  • Krunal Pandya and Hardik Pandya join Mumbai Indians’ camp in UAE

    By ANI

    ABU DHABI: Mumbai Indians star all-rounders Krunal Pandya and Hardik Pandya have joined the team’s camp here in Abu Dhabi ahead of the resumption of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    The 14th season, which was postponed in May this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume on September 19 in Dubai with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

    “Humare Pandya brothers aa gaye,” Mumbai Indians tweeted.

    Mumbai Indians and CSK reached UAE earlier this month and have begun training.

    After the match on September 19, the action will shift to Abu Dhabi where Kolkata Knight Riders will square off against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

    Sharjah will host its first game on September 24 when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Chennai Super Kings. In all, 13 matches will be held in Dubai, 10 in Sharjah, and 8 in Abu Dhabi.

    The BCCI has decided to do away with contact tracing devices for the UAE leg. The Indian board decided that Bubble Integrity Officers will do the necessary contact tracing if any player tests positive for COVID-19 in UAE.

    The board has come up with a 46-page health advisory that lays down all the pointers that everyone associated with the IPL needs to follow in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the league.

  • Hardik Pandya out of ‘full-strength’ India Test squad

    For the first time in over a year, the Indian Test team will be at full strength when they travel for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand — followed by the five-Test series in England — next month.

    However, allrounder Hardik Pandya missed the bus due to his inability to consistently bowl. On Friday, the selectors picked a squad of 20 players and four standbys for the three-month tour.
    Ravindra Jadeja, Hanuma Vihari and Umesh Yadav are all back in the squad. Kuldeep Yadav has been left out of an entire tour for the first time in four years, putting a big question mark over his future with the Indian team. Navdeep Saini too has been overlooked.

    Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna and Gujarat left-arm seamer Arzan Nagwaswalla have been picked as standbys. It is believed that Nagwaswalla will offer good simulation practice to prepare for Trent Boult and Sam Curran.
    KL Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha have been picked subject to fitness clearance. While Rahul has undergone an appendicitis surgery last week, Wriddhiman Saha is recovering from Covid-19 infection which he picked up during the IPL last week.
    Doubts over Pandya’s bowling career
    During the home series against England in March, captain Virat Kohli harped on the need to monitor Pandya’s bowling workload as the team believed he could be crucial to the team’s chances in the English summer. Pandya bowled in five T20Is and one ODI against England in March. He didn’t bowl after that.
    “It doesn’t seem he is being able to sustain the load of bowling. He recovered from a back surgery, changed his action but now it’s his shoulder that is bothering him,” a source close to the Indian team management told TOI.
    The Indian support staff monitored Pandya even during the four-Test series against England in Feb-March. But it now seems Pandya is struggling to respond to the workload.

  • Hardik Pandya thanks Mumbai Indians for six ‘extraordinary’ years

    By ANI
    CHENNAI: All-rounder Hardik Pandya on Monday took a trip down memory lane as he completed six “extraordinary” years with Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    Hardik made his debut for Mumbai Indians on this day in 2015 and since then the all-rounder has established himself as one of the key members of the side.

    Hardik thanked the management, staff, teammates, and fans for the love and support and posted a video cherishing some good moments of his with Mumbai Indians.

    “A walk down memory lane and looking back at 6 extraordinary years with a team so close to my heart @mipaltan To the management, staff, teammates and fans who’ve been with me on this journey, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Hardik tweeted.

    In his debut match, Hardik had scored 16 runs off six balls as Mumbai Indians defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 18 runs.

    Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene revealed Hardik picked up a niggle during the ODI series between India and England and that has kept the all-rounder away from bowling in the ongoing IPL.

    Hardik has in recent times stuck to playing as a finisher both in the national team and Mumbai Indians. Jayawardene wants Hardik to recover fully from the niggle before taking on the batsmen with ball in hand.

    “We were looking forward to him bowling this season as he didn’t bowl in last year’s IPL after coming from an injury and he wasn’t ready. In his last ODI match against England, I believe Hardik picked up a niggle so we don’t want to risk an injury,” Jayawardene explained.

    “We want to be sure that he is comfortable in bowling so hopefully in the next few weeks with a bit of work and all that you might see him bowling, we would love to see him bowling but as soon as the niggle goes off and he is comfortable in bowling we could utilise that asset as well,” he added.

  • Hardik Pandya isn’t bowling as he picked a niggle during last ODI against England: Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene

    By ANI
    CHENNAI: Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Monday revealed Hardik Pandya picked up a niggle during the ODI series between India and England which has kept the all-rounder away from bowling in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Hardik has in recent times stuck to playing as a finisher both in the national team and Mumbai Indians.

    Jayawardene wants Hardik to recover fully from the niggle before taking on the batsmen with ball in hand. “We were looking forward to him bowling this season as he didn’t bowl in last year’s IPL after coming from an injury and he wasn’t ready. In his last ODI match against England, I believe Hardik picked up a niggle so we don’t want to risk an injury,” Jayawardene explained.

    “We want to be sure that he is comfortable in bowling so hopefully in the next few weeks with a bit of work and all that you might see him bowling, we would love to see him bowling but as soon as the niggle goes off and he is comfortable in bowling we could utilise that asset as well,” he added.

    In the games, where Mumbai Indians pulled off victories from losing positions, spinner Rahul Chahar played a key role. He might have gone for 43 runs in his first match but the spinner returned with seven wickets in the next two.

    “Rahul Chahar has been performing well for us for the last 3 years. He is still a young player and is constantly learning. We are very happy with his progress,” said Jayawardene.

    Mumbai Indians will next lock horns with Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai on Tuesday.